It’s time to reconnect
with horses, the land, and yourself.
Once, while visiting a friend’s farm,
I volunteered to help bring hay out to the barn. When I got there, I was met with a horse who had a reputation for being a bit wild and scary. To finish the job, I had to walk through his paddock. He was running back and forth along the fence, and I felt too afraid to go in. I shrank, and felt ashamed for not knowing what to do. But then all the sudden something clicked inside me. I took a deep breath, I stood up tall, and made myself bigger. And just like that, he calmed down, and moved on so I could walk through. The truth is, when we interact with horses, they present us with these moments where we have to face our stuff—our worries, our fears, and that which we’d rather avoid. So in that moment when I stepped into my confidence, I was able to embody the presence I wanted to have and get the result that I desired. My body remembers that feeling, and I can now call upon it when needed in other aspects of my life.
There is a life-altering power in working with horses, and for many, it’s the exact type of therapeutic medium we need to see real, embodied results.
So, what is Equine Assisted Mental Health, and how can it help?
EAMH is a beautiful opportunity to engage in therapy in an experiential and interactive way. For people who need support with symptoms such as difficulties with stress, low mood, low motivation, low self confidence or symptoms related to trauma (which, by the way, can include all of those I just mentioned) EAMH can allow you to process underlying feelings and also learn and practice coping skills in real time with the horses. Furthermore, given that there is another living being that is present and active in the therapy, there are wonderful opportunities to work on mindfulness and relational skills as well. For people who like animals, there is often a natural draw to therapy in the horse environment which automatically increases interest.
"Rebecca embodies the qualities of a therapist that I look for: she is down to earth and doesn’t lead with her doctorate, but rather her warm, wise demeanor, and impenetrable ethics of justice. Her deep knowledge in traditional therapy and horse psychology gives her the ability to work alongside everyone in times of need. She intentionally creates space for all creatures and is dedicated to the work.
— Cristina Rennie, MA, RCC, CBEIP/MH
Psst… If you are looking for Equine Assisted Mental Health Therapy, read this:
At the moment, I am not offering Equine Assisted Mental Health sessions since my work with horses and humans is now focused on Stable Grounds Sanctuary. Founded by mental health professionals, Stable Grounds Sanctuary is creating space for reciprocity and mutual healing across all living species.
Alternatively, I am available for 1-1 therapy and Freedom from Fawning coaching, where I help people who struggle with people-pleasing reclaim their authentic, aligned, deeply fulfilling lives.
